Professional Branding & Design without the Large Price-tag
At AKO Consulting, we recognize opportunity, solve problems and create value for small businesses. We believe great design is fueled by strategically engaging, relevant content and that company professionalism positively affects customer experience leading to increased loyalty and revenue.
Our consultants are entrepreneurs who can fully identify with clients who, all too often, have to wear multiple hats while managing limited resources (including their time) in order to accomplish their business goals. This understanding differentiates our service as our consultants need minimal direction and will take initiative in ways that will free up clients to focus on their operational priorities first and foremost.
Our experience is vast, covering retail, services, business-to-business (B2B) and consumer packaged goods (CPG), in addition to having a Spanish language proficiency. Our consultants have worked with Fortune 500 companies (Lowe’s Home Improvement, Splenda, Campbell’s Soup Company, eBay) along with Latin American companies (Grupo Unicomer and Deli Pollo S.A,). It is our goal at AKO to bring big agency level thinking and experience to small businesses at a price they can afford.
EXPERTISE
At AKO, our experience is multi-faceted; from financial forecasting and business planning to website development and promotional materials. We provide start to finish development and implementation for our clients, enabling a one-stop shop approach. Specifically, our consultants can fill the roles of Managing Directors, Brand Strategists, Marketing Directors, Research Managers, Web Developers and Graphic Designers.
PLANNING
BUSINESS PLANNING & FINANCIAL FORECASTING
Help articulate a company’s vision, goals and desired consumer in order to create a strategic business plan that is rooted in the analysis of research and insight, supplemented by a financial forecast with parameters for success.
Strategy
BRAND STRATEGY & COMMUNICATIONS PLANNING
Assist in developing a clear brand identity with a corresponding communications framework in order to reach the right people in the right place and at the right time during the consumer purchasing journey.
Research
RESEARCH & CONSUMER INSIGHTS
Help design and execute consumer research while providing actionable consumer insights and recommendations that influence brand strategy, product design, marketing and sales.
DEVELOPMENT
PRODUCT & MARKET DEVELOPMENT
Conduct a deep-dive into a market’s contextual cues (economic, social and political) in order to recognize opportunities and threats with a goal of minimizing risk, leading to educated and clear decision-making.
Creative
MARKETING COLLATERAL & DESIGN
“Creative without strategy is art. Creative with strategy is advertising.” In itself, great design doesn’t ensure great marketing. Therefore, not only design services will be provided, but also copywriting and marketing in the process.
Services
We not only help businesses develop a brand strategy, but we activate and employ that strategy with marketing materials that provide a consistent brand look and feel across all forms of media. From web design and development to email marketing and brochures, AKO provides full-service marketing from start to finish.
EXPERIENCE COVERING A DIVERSE CLIENT BASE IN RETAIL, B2B & CPG,
ACROSS MULTIPLE INDUSTRIES AND IN TWO DIFFERENT LANGUAGES (ENG / ESP).
CLIENTS
Founding Partner
Allison Ocanto
Internationally accomplished strategist and entrepreneur with over 20 years of diversified experience in retail, healthcare, tourism, CPG, banking, and B2B. An expert in crafting compelling narratives informed by research with a proven track record in account management and business planning. Experience working abroad with bilingual (English/Spanish) proficiency.
Principal Consultant
Meredith Klein
Talented front-end developer with a passion for building websites that are both beautiful and intuitive. By analyzing websites from the user’s perspective Meredith is able to maximize ease-of-use and increase conversions for clients. She possesses a potent combination of strong coding skills, a keen eye for design, and the ability to communicate clearly with both clients and team members.